Everyone wants to know how successful people do things. The thought is that these big, famous, successful people must know some kind of a secret that got them to where they are now—and if you could just figure out that secret, their success could be available to you, too! Here’s the thing: there are multiple ways to define success, and multiple ways to achieve it. There is no silver bullet. On the other hand, there are habits and mindsets that all successful people do and have, and you can learn those and use them to achieve your own goals.

First and Foremost, Be Goal-Oriented

Your goals are everything. They show you your values and what you want to achieve in your life. When you keep them updated and in front of you, they can help you stay on track and actually take steps to meet them, rather than just talking about them. When you have a laser-focus on your goals—for your life, your family, your health, your finances, your practice, everything—every step you take will be towards them. This motivates you and helps you make changes or do things that will allow you to achieve what you need to, in order to live the kind of life you want to live.

Say No

Part of being goal-oriented means saying no, and believe it or not, successful people say no all the time. They say no to anything and everything that will distract them from what they want. Maybe you’ve been given a great opportunity to speak at a bunch of upcoming conferences, but they conflict with your goal of spending more time with your family on weekends. Or perhaps you have a chance to coach a youth sports league, but the time it requires conflicts with your goal of setting aside time for personal or practice development. None of these are bad opportunities—but when they distract you from your goals, saying no is the best thing you can do for your future success.

Focus On Just a Few Things for Shorter Periods

People make goals for things way off in the future, and then think about how much time they have and don’t worry about taking steps toward that goal today. Then as the deadline closes in, they’re left panicking and trying (or failing) to meet that goal. Successful people think in shorter increments, so every moment matters. Make shorter deadlines and focus on achieving just one or two of your goals on that tighter timeline. This is something we have discussed plenty in our Mastermind group, particularly as it relates to Brian Moran’s book The 12-Week Year.

Don’t Go It Alone

No one is successful in a vacuum. The highest-achieving people in businesses and in medicine all have mentors, partners, and peers that helped them get to where they are now. People are great for helping you hold yourself accountable to your goals and pushing you to make the changes you need to make. More than that, you can learn from other’s mistakes as much as your own. That is why Mastermind groups are central to Top Practices and everything we do. The people around you matter, so you should choose to associate with others in your field who can help you achieve your goals.

If you’re a medical professional and looking to be successful in your practice, but you aren’t sure where to start, let Top Practices help you get on track. Contact us for more information about our Mastermind groups and how to market effectively and manage efficiently in your practice. You can reach us by calling (717)725-2679 or e-mailing [email protected].